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Your EnterQuest Bulletin - Issue 354
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| Thought for the week: "Wait until night before saying it has been a fine day." French proverb |
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In this week's issue:
Research suggests women know more about employment law than men
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published research which indicates that female business owners place a greater emphasis on keeping up-to-date with employment law compared to men. More than half of women surveyed said they feel it is important to stay informed about changes to the law, while only 38% of men feel the same.
Furthermore, more than a quarter of men admit they don't keep up to speed with legislation changes, while a quarter of women admit to worrying more about managing employment law correctly.
The study has prompted concerns of a "knowledge gap" in small business owners' understanding of employment law, and highlights potential disparities in the ways in which men and women treat their employment law responsibilities.
Petra Wilton, director of policy and research at the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), explains: "These findings show that small business bosses take very different approaches to the ways in which they manage their obligations, what really matters is for business leaders to realise that employment law is a key responsibility of theirs."
To have your say about employment law or whether you agree with the findings of the BIS research, click here to make your comments.
Each week we provide you with summaries of some popular or emerging business ideas in the UK and elsewhere around the world.
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RadarMusicVideos is a matchmaking service that pairs unsigned music artists with limited budgets for making videos with music video directors across the globe. RadarMusicVideos takes a fee for providing the service.
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Algodon Wines, a vineyard in Argentina offers customers the opportunity to buy a barrel of wine (which holds up to 290 bottles), decide how long to keep it in the barrel, and brand it with their own customised label.
Each week EnterQuest highlights one or two business and consumer topics that are currently buzzing on the Internet.
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History and fashion appear to be popular at the moment - one of the most watched items on eBay this week has been a burlesque corset. Other most-watched items include high-fashion wet-look leggings and a nuclear bunker in the Peak District.
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UK gamers have been searching for news of the bug affecting the PS3. In particular the bug has affected businesses selling reconditioned or second-hand older models or games for the console.
The following topical business issues have been recently reported in the media. Did your radar pick them up?
1) According to an article in The Telegraph, Chancellor Alistair Darling has outlined plans to significantly increase tax that would amount to several pounds on the price of which of the following popular consumer items?
a) perfume
b) vitamin supplements
c) spirits
d) DVDs
2) Which of the following types of business are subject to being banned from opening within 400 yards of schools, youth clubs or parks?
a) Internet cafés
b) takeaways
c) gyms
d) tattoo parlours
3) The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging the Government to do which of the following in a bid to help small firms recruit staff in the aftermath of the recession?
a) freeze National Insurance
b) put a cap on October's minimum wage increases
c) introduce a recruitment fund for micro firms
d) streamline employment red tape
Answers at the end of the Bulletin.
Spam blacklist check
This tool enables businesses to check if their Internet Protocol (IP) address is on any spam blacklists. It also explains how to remove any IP, host or domain that is on a primary blacklist.
Tips for freelancers on a budget
Sparkplugging is a resource for freelance professionals, home business owners, parents with a business, and any other micro enterprise looking for money-saving ideas and techniques.
Best practice for third party marketing with inserts
This best practice guidance issued by the Direct Marketing Association and the Inserts Council (a specialist section of the Association) covers various issues regarding the use of third party inserts. It includes campaign planning, design considerations, insert process, distribution, areas that can go wrong and compliance issues.
Free browser checker
This tool from Anybrowser.com enables you to check your website in different screen resolutions for both PCs and Macs to make sure it is visually appealing to a number of resolution settings.
What good are accounts that are produced so late?
Would you like your business accounts updated daily and accessible to you online?
Contact Paul & Co now on (020) 8204 9911 or visit www.paul.co.uk. |
British Library Business & IP Centre in London
The Centre can help you from that first spark of inspiration to successfully launching and growing your business. It offers free access to business and intellectual property resources, workshops, networking events and one-to-one advice sessions.
Find out more at www.bl.uk/bipc. |
Success Tools
We have a simple yet marvellous purpose: to help people realise their full potential ... to make them successful and happy.
The goal is self-improvement ... the vehicles are audio, DVD, MP3 and video programmes.
Click on any of the Success Tools on the website page and see for yourself and start building your path to success now. Also, visit our 'Knowledge Pool - The Resource'.
Visit the website at www.cavendish-mr.org.uk. |
To promote your products or services in EnterQuest Classifieds, contact us on (0191) 461 8000 or e-mail us at enterquest@cobwebinfo.com.
Win an I.R.I.S. package worth over £200
EnterQuest has teamed up with mobile office products manufacturer I.R.I.S. to offer readers the chance to win a package containing IRISnotes 1.0 and IRIScan 2 Express worth over £200.
The IRISnotes 1.0 converts scribbled notes and diagrams into editable text on your PC, while the IRIScan converts paper documents such as invoices and receipts into editable and searchable text files.
To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, just answer the following question:
Q: Plans to implement new business levies on takeaways are being drawn up by some councils in a bid to raise money to tackle obesity. How much is the proposed levy?
a) £500
b) £1,000
E-mail your answer, together with your name, address and daytime phone number, using 'I.R.I.S. competition' in the subject line, to enterquest@cobwebinfo.com.
All entries must be received by 31 March. Full competition rules are available on request.
How's your business radar? The answers
1) The answer is c) - Spirits could be in for a huge increase in alcohol tax in the Chancellor's Budget, which is yet to be announced. The plans, if implemented, could see the price of a bottle of gin rise from £12.79 to £21.17.
2) The answer is b) - Takeaways are being banned from opening near schools, as local councils seek to do more to tackle obesity among young people. Sixteen councils in England are implementing the plans, which include a £1,000 levy on new outlets in some regions.
3) The answer is a) - The FSB is calling for National Insurance (NI) to be frozen at its current rate, instead of increasing by 1% as outlined in the Pre-Budget Report in December 2009. Research by the organisation revealed that the increase could cost up to 57,000 jobs. |
Also from EnterQuest's publisher
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The UK Small Business Marketing Bible contains hundreds of tips and tactics for boosting your sales using proven marketing strategies that work no matter what product or service you sell. |
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Visit www.enterprisequest.com to access all back issues of the EnterQuest bulletin. If you have any feedback or suggestions for us to make this service more relevant please e-mail your comments to enterquest@cobwebinfo.com.
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Remember that we guarantee never to sell or give your e-mail address to anyone else.
Good luck
The EnterQuest Team
This information is meant as a starting point only. Whilst all reasonable efforts have been made, the publisher makes no warranties that the information is accurate and up-to-date and will not be responsible for any errors or omissions in the information nor any consequences of any errors or omissions. Professional advice should be sought where appropriate. |
